nelson mandela did spend some time in the hospital earlier this year. he had stomach surgery. >>> clashes continue around the syrian capital of damascus today. nbc news is reporting that the assad regime may be preparing to use chemical weapons against rebels now. nbc's chief foreign correspondent richard engle reports from syria's board we are tokyo. >> the fighting in damascus is intense. rebels in the streets gaining ground. a car bombing in the capital. a military barracks nearby, rebels claim, overrun. and the road to damascus airport syria's main international link cut off. this war 21 months in is now moving fast. as rebels advance, they're capturing syrian tanks and seizing new weapons, able to shoot down helicopters. even fighter jets challenging the regime's air superiority. in the capital bread lines in what has been the regime's stronghold. more lines in aleppo and little power. though assad still has the upper hand. rebels worry that the increasingly desperate dictator will resort to chemical weapons. that would be catastrophic for syrians